The Premier League clubs have been warned that Liverpool already has the perfect replacement of Virgil van Dijk in the new obligation, Giovanni Leoni.
This is the judgment of the CEO of London City Lionesses Martin Semmens, who supervised developments in both Southampton and Parma.
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The former CEO of Saints claimed Liverpool, who signed the current captain van Dijk in St. Mary’s during his time in St. Mary’s.
The Italian defender Leoni completed the interest of other Premier League clubs last month to complete £ 26 million to Anfield.
The 18-year-old was perhaps the most cautious signing of Liverpools 446 million pound summer stroll for the arrivals for the new season.
The Reds broke the British transfer record twice with 116.5 million GBP Florian Wirtz, and when Alexander Isak was around 125 million pounds.
The last time the Merseysiders made such an explanation on the market was ironic when the Tipper Van Dijk 2018 arrived for £ 75 million.
In Leoni, which Semmen brought from Sampdoria from Sampdoria last year, Liverpool was informed that they had the successor to the Dutch.
“Yes, absolutely for me [Leoni is the heir to the Van Dijk throne]”Semmens said to Macha, Crook & Deeney on Friday.
“We signed him in the second year in which I was there in summer and I have a deep love for people like [Newcastle defender] Tino Livramento [for Southampton] And sign these young players. Romeo Lavia: This was the same type of deal.
“I think it was clearly the best young center in Italy, if not in Europe. And again we sold the vision to come to our club to play in Series A.
“I think it was 17 when he started playing and then when the right moment comes, you will go.
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Leoni ‘as good as Virgil van Dijk’
“Our understanding was the same with the keeper we bought. [Zion] Suzuki the Japanese goalkeeper. United tried to buy him. This is a rumor that I can do half -party.
“The view was that they would probably stay there for more than a year, but Leoni was such a great level, and I think it emphasizes Liverpool’s ability that they discovered it.
“There were other clubs in the Premier League who asked me about him – not as an executive for Parma because I had gone until then, and I told them what I thought and they did not follow. Liverpool never called me.”
“Five or six teams from the Premier League asked me,” added Semmens. “I told them that he was as good as Virgil.”
“Liverpool never called me, never asked for a reference because they have such a ability to find these players. Top player!”
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Liverpool beat Newcastle against Leoni Transfer
In July, Talksport announced that at least ten Premier League clubs asked about the signing of Leoni.
Among these were Liverpool, Newcastle and Tottenham Hotspur, who had completed a deal for the setback a month later.
The CEO of Parma, Federico Cherubini, has since announced that the club initially rejected a higher offer from Newcastle for Leoni.
However, the Italian club ultimately offered its offer to capture the teenager due to his wish to connect to the side of Arne Slot.
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Leoni took Lukaku out of the game
Semmens revealed that one of the last moments from Leoni’s short stay in Parma remains one who will live in memory for a long time.
In the penultimate game of the season, Parma was in the middle of a relegation battle when they organized the chosen Champions-elected Napoli.
But Leoni made sure that the series -a title races went to the wire after dominating Romelu Lukaku during a goalless patting in May.
“He brought Lukaku out of the game,” reflected Semmes Talksport. “We went to Napoli to get a point and he marked it from the game.
“I have never seen anything like this – just turned it down!
“I spent my life losing Troy against Troy [Deeney] And Lukakus bullying our central defenders, and Leoni could do it.
“I think he is a top player. I don’t understand the way for him whether he will play this year or not.
“But at some point, yes, I think he’s long -term [replacement for Van Dijk]. “
Deeney added: “He will play enough games this year to adapt and get used to living in Liverpool, and the pressure because it is another pressure, right?
“But I think next year [Ibrahima] Konate goes, it is seamless [transition]… I can see Liverpool how he plays three in the background. “